title: Effectiveness of acupuncture for smoking cessation in a Chinese population.
abstract: An observational study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for smoking cessation, and determine predictors for successful quitters. Smokers received at least 6 sessions of body acupuncture provided by Chinese medicine practitioners and initiated self-administered auricular acupuncture. We determined self-report 26-week and 52-week quit rates by intention-to-treat analysis and examined predictors for successful quitting by univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 1002 smokers were recruited; 26-week and 52-week quit rates were 16.8% and 15.8%, respectively. Male sex, older age, lower nicotine dependence level, and number of body acupuncture and counseling sessions received were associated with successful quitting. A multiple logistic regression model showed that sex, nicotine dependence level, and number of body acupuncture sessions received were predictors for successful quitting. Body and auricular acupuncture is effective in smoking cessation and should be considered as an alternative to help smokers in quitting, especially for those whose past attempts using conventional methods were in vain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Hong Kong edmond_ma@dh.gov.hk.
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture Institute of China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ou
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jin-sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ying-ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ya-chan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Hong Kong Dr PY Lam is the ex-Director of Department of Health, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ping-yan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: acupuncture; observational study; smoking cessation; tobacco; withdrawal symptoms